Solar technology refers to the technology of using the sun's rays of energy in order to provide heat, light, heated water, and even electricity, which can be used in homes, business establishments, and in schools, and so on. Solar energy can also be utilized for cooling purposes, and there are in fact several different types of solar energy. Some of them are: 'photovoltaic' or solar cell systems, passive solar heating systems, and day lighting, and also space heat or cooling systems. (National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Solar Research) As more and more people everywhere are learning the benefits of solar energy and the ways and means in which this versatile energy may be used, industries based on solar energy systems have been reaping the benefits. Figures show that the usage of solar energy has risen by about 25 % per annum over the past few years, and the US market has showed a growth of 27 % in 2004, as compared to 17 % in 2003. (Fast Solar Energy Facts, Global Performance).

             However, at the same time, these rates do compare unfavorably to those in Germany and in Japan, as revealed in the following figures: in Germany, there is a 'Feed-in-Law' that allows most customer applications to avail of about 45.7 euro cents/ kWh for electricity that has been generated by solar energy, and today, this program has called for a total of 1000 megawatts to be installed, and therefore, loans for above 250 megawatts of PV systems are being approved. In Japan, for the Fiscal year 2002, the 'Japanese Solar Roof Top Program' received applications from about 42,838 households in Japan. As a matter of fact, Japan has also managed to replace the United States of America as the largest net exporter in the world of PV cells and modules. (Fast Solar Energy Facts, Global Performance).

             It must be remembered that solar energy apparently is the best solution to today's energy problems, if only because of the fact that it seems to be an inexhaustible source of energy, which can be available to everyone who needs it.